The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa has completed its inaugural Spring 2026 Professional Mentorship Program, connecting students with industry professionals in an effort to strengthen student success and career readiness.

The 14-week pilot program paired 20 engineering students with 20 mentors in individualized, one-on-one matches. Selected from more than 50 applicants, cohort students ranged from first-year undergraduates to graduate students.

Mentors brought diverse experience from across the engineering field, including leadership roles in renewable energy, aerospace and advanced technology. Participants included professionals affiliated with organizations such as NASA Ames Research Center, Lockheed Martin Space and Hawaiian Electric, as well as alumni who returned to support the next generation of engineers.

Student, alumni, professional, mentor

One of those professionals was Wendy McLain, a senior civil engineer and deputy manager at SSFM International, Inc. McLain mentored major Ashton Quichocho. She highlighted Quichocho’s willingness to step outside her comfort zone, explore different career paths and develop both technical and leadership skills along the way.

“It was really rewarding getting to give back,” McLain said. “There’s this sense of responsibility and kuleana to be able to do the same for others that have done for us, and especially now in our field and industry. We need more talent, so it’s really exciting to see all of the exciting new talent that’s up and coming.”

Quichocho, a graduating senior, called it a “full-circle moment” because she will soon be working full-time with McLain at SSFM International, Inc.

“I learned a lot about myself and the direction I want to go post-grad,” Quichocho said. “In the beginning, I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do or what I was going to apply for, and I’m glad that this program was able to give me Wendy because she had so much career advice for me, but also life advice for me, too.”

Throughout the semester, mentors and mentees met at least twice monthly, engaging in conversations focused on academic planning, internships, career pathways and professional development. Many pairs expanded those interactions through workplace visits, job shadowing and collaborative activities that offered students direct exposure to real-world engineering environments.

Created by students for students

Members of the helped to run the pilot program.

“As students ourselves, we wanted to create something that reflected what we believed would be most beneficial, which led us to build a mentorship program,” said Dayza Otsuka-Cabodol, an ESA who was part of the planning committee. “Working closely with our committee and continuously adjusting based on feedback, we watched the vision come together week by week.”

Organizers plan to expand the program in fall 2026, building on lessons from the pilot to reach more students and mentors. The next cohort aims to further strengthen connections between the college and industry while continuing to support student success across all stages of the engineering pathway. Apply online as or for the fall 2026 program.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa has received nearly $1 million in new federal funding—including a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award—for research led by Assistant Professor Tianlu Wang to develop tiny, flexible robots designed to work in hard-to-reach environments, from coral reefs to the human body.

The funding includes a five-year, $659,613 CAREER award and a two-year, $299,997 Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Fellows grant, both from NSF.

“By focusing on both performance and safety, we’re working to make miniature robots practical for real-world use in places that are difficult to reach,” said Wang from UH Mānoa’s . “This research brings us closer to technologies that can better support healthcare and protect sensitive environments.”

The CAREER project focuses on improving how small “soft” robots move and function in fluids such as the ocean or inside the body. These robots, about the size of a few millimeters to centimeters, can adapt to their surroundings. However, they currently lack the speed, agility and manipulation capabilities as seen in small marine organisms. The research aims to change that by developing new ways for the robots to interact with fluids, helping them move faster, turn more easily and handle objects. Potential uses include exploring coral reefs and mangroves, monitoring aquaculture systems and reaching difficult areas of the body for medical diagnosis or treatment. The project also supports student learning through new courses, research opportunities and public outreach.

The CAREER program is the NSF’s flagship award for early-career faculty in the U.S., supporting those who show strong potential to lead in both research and education. CAREER awardees are also eligible for nomination to the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, a White House honor recognizing innovative research and leadership.

Safety and environmentally friendly design

The EPSCoR fellowship focuses on safety and environmentally friendly design. In collaboration with the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the project will develop miniature soft robots made from materials that are safer for natural environments and medical use. It will also establish methods for designing and testing these robots to ensure they can operate effectively without causing harm. The work is expected to expand research opportunities at UH, while training students in robotics, materials science and biomedical engineering.

Wang also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at The Queen’s Medical Center and a cooperating faculty in UH Mānoa’s .

Related UH News stories:

• Heart tech, mini medical robot breakthrough: UH researcher earns $230K award, April 8, 2026
• Bio-inspired breakthroughs: Engineering solutions from nature, August 26, 2025
• Team of microscopic soft robots could transform medical care, November 10, 2024
• Robot tech to clean oceans wows international summit, February 6, 2024

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa hosted its 26th annual banquet, bringing together approximately 1,000 students, faculty, alumni, industry leaders and supporters to celebrate the innovation and impact the college has on the state of �鶹��ý.

Held on April 17 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the event began with a student project expo, where dozens of teams presented hands-on work across aerospace, robotics, sustainability and artificial intelligence. Projects included bioinspired soft robotics systems, student-built satellites, autonomous drones and renewable energy solutions aligned with campus sustainability goals, offering attendees a firsthand look at applied learning with real-world relevance.

Following welcome remarks by Dean Brennon Morioka, UH President Wendy Hensel and �鶹��ý Gov. Josh Green, as well as dinner service, the formal program featured an awards ceremony recognizing contributions to the engineering community. Dayna Nemoto-Shima (Pacific Geotechnical Engineers, Inc.) and Brandon Shima (UH) received the Outstanding Service Award, Greg Hiyakumoto (R.M. Towill Corporation) was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Bharath Kadaba (Lu Labs) earned the Dean’s Award of Excellence.

Connecting talent with opportunity

“The future of engineering in �鶹��ý depends on how well we connect talent with opportunity, and those relationships happen because of the people who attended our annual banquet,” College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said. “Our industry partners and donors are the heart and soul of our local economy and help create pathways for students to lead, to solve and to stay and make a difference right here at home.”

The formal program also highlighted the featured student project, the unexploded ordnance (UXO) project. The multidisciplinary effort applies advanced sensing technologies and robotics to safely detect unexploded ordnance in �鶹��ý, addressing long-standing environmental and public safety challenges.

“I got the opportunity to go to the 21 years of peace celebration at Mākua Valley and it really was an amazing opportunity to actually get to talk to the community and we got to talk to students too,” said UXO student project leader Kamalani Goo. “It was really instilled in me that we need to be having these conversations and building these relationships because no one truly understands the issues as well as the community that is experiencing them.”

The event concluded with a live auction and more networking, celebrating the shared commitment to advancing engineering in �鶹��ý. The college extended its mahalo to donors and �鶹��ý’s engineering industry for their continued support, including mentorship, internships and career development opportunities that help shape student success. All net proceeds from the annual banquet goes directly to supporting the many student projects showcased at the event.

, an assistant professor in the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa , has received the Career Development Award from the to advance medical research and technology for vascular and heart health. The three-year, $230,727 award supports promising early-career investigators working on innovative solutions in cardiovascular and related biomedical research.

“I am very honored to receive this award,” Wang said. “This support allows us to explore bold ideas that could change how we approach medical treatment inside the human body, while building a strong network of collaborators who bring different expertise to the table. It’s a great opportunity to train the next generation of engineers and create technologies that could one day make procedures safer and less invasive.”

Wang’s project focuses on developing miniature soft robotics combined with artificial intelligence to create new medical devices that can navigate hard-to-reach areas of the body and enhance the function of cardiovascular and neurovascular systems. The work builds on Wang’s previous research on soft robotics inspired by diverse marine life. By studying how small aquatic animals move efficiently through complex environments, his team designs flexible robots that can safely operate in delicate spaces, such as inside the human body.

Related UH News stories:

• Bio-inspired breakthroughs: Engineering solutions from nature, August 26, 2025
• Team of microscopic soft robots could transform medical care, November 10, 2024
• Robot tech to clean oceans wows international summit, February 6, 2024

The award also supports collaboration and mentorship with scientists from UH Mānoa’s , The Queen’s Medical Center, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These partnerships aim to strengthen research and expand real-world applications of miniature soft robotics in healthcare.

Wang also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at The Queen’s Medical Center and a cooperating faculty in UH Mānoa’s .

The project highlights UH Mānoa’s growing role in robotics and biomedical engineering, with a focus on developing technologies that can improve patient care and address complex health challenges such as sudden cardiac arrest.

Ten graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50, and an additional 17 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2026 , released on April 7.

UH Mānoa’s (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and UH �ᾱ����’s ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked UH Mānoa programs were in the , ranking No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs.

The ranked No. 22 (tied) for best international programs, and the (SOEST) placed No. 40 (tied) for best Earth sciences programs. JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care.

“UH Mānoa’s strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “These results reflect the talent and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, and �鶹��ý can take pride in knowing their university is preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers for our community and the world.”

Rankings were based on multiple factors, including research activity (such as publications and citations), student and alumni outcomes (employment and earnings), quality assessments (from peers and recruiters), student selectivity (GPA and test scores), and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student-to-faculty ratios).

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these UH News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  Shidler College of Business  |  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Social Sciences  |  College of Engineering  |  College of Natural Sciences  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 16 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs, the �鶹��ýlaw school placed No. 91 (tied) among the top law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

• Tax law: No. 80 (tied)
• Criminal law: No. 88 (tied)
• Contracts/commercial law: No. 92 (tied)
• Health care law: No. 92 (tied)
• Constitutional law: No. 95 (tied)
• Business/corporate law: No. 101 (tied)
• Clinical training: No. 102 (tied)
• Intellectual property law: No. 127 (tied)
• Trial advocacy: No. 175 (tied)

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 3 for best medical schools for research.
In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 139 for speech language pathology and No. 171 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. .

Shidler College of Business

The Shidler College of Business placed in nine subject areas. Leading the way were international programs at No. 22 (tied), accounting programs at No. 68 (tied), information systems programs at No. 72 (tied) and marketing programs at No. 91 (tied). In addition, Shidler ranked at No. 104 (tied) for best management programs, No. 113 (tied) for best executive programs, No. 123 (tied) for best finance programs, No. 125 (tied) for best entrepreneurship programs and No. 142 (tied) for best part-time MBA programs.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

SOEST placed No. 40 (tied) among the nation’s best Earth sciences programs.

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene placed No. 55 (tied) for best nursing school–master’s and No. 62 (tied) for best nursing school–doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Both were the only programs in �鶹��ý to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

College of Education

The College of Education ranked No. 57 (tied) in the U.S., the 21st straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 89 (tied) among the nation’s top public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to an online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences placed among the nation’s best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation’s best in at No. 91 (tied), at No. 92 (tied), and at No. 128 (tied). The College of Engineering overall ranked No. 164 (tied) among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

College of Natural Sciences

The placed among the nation’s best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

UH Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa ballroom dance team won its third consecutive national title at the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27–29.

Competing against 37 colleges, UH Mānoa once again took first place for “highest point average,” as well as a close second place for the overall team championship, asserting its place among the nation’s top ballroom dance college teams. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires most team members to perform exceptionally well in all events.

The dancers of the Ballroom Dance Club @UHM—a registered independent organization at UH Mānoa—are trained and coached by Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti. Narayan and Sumukti also represented �鶹��ý in the senior age division placing 1st in several events.

“We are no longer the underdogs, so all the other colleges are looking at us as the team to beat,” said Narayan, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the UH Mānoa . “The bar is getting raised higher and higher each year, but we prevailed once again. We are incredibly proud of the dedication of our dancers who put in many hours to prepare for this competition. We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from the entire ballroom community in the state of �鶹��ý.”

The Ballroom Dance Club @UHM was formed in September 2022, and the team took first place for “highest team average” in 2024 and 2025.

“Nationals was an amazing and eye-opening experience for me,” said Caleb Zerbe, who competed in the nationals for the first time. “Getting to see so many people dance and enjoy themselves on the floor made me realize how fun dancing can be, even at the highest stages. It was a moment that helped me build a lot of confidence, and one that I will never forget.”

Christopher Ramirez, who competed on all three victorious UH Mānoa teams, added, “Given the opportunity to compete at my third nationals, there is always something new to learn. Winning for the third year in a row has reminded me just how incredible it is to be a part of this team.”

Tough competition

NCDC is a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. It consisted of multiple events based on proficiency (bronze, silver, gold, etc.). Each student danced in up to 32 different events at the bronze and silver skill levels. They competed in all four styles of ballroom dance including International Standard (waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz), American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing, bolero and mambo) and International Latin (samba, chacha, rumba, paso doble and jive).

Several students took individual first place awards in their respective divisions defeating up to 70 other competitors in some events. This trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition, as �鶹��ý has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all UH Mānoa students, faculty and staff in studio 2 in the athletics department from 6—7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, UH Mānoa Department of Athletics, Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of �鶹��ý, USA Dance Honolulu and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for facility and financial support.

UH Mānoa 2026 nationals collegiate and adult team roster:

• Ravi Narayan, faculty (computer science), coach and alumnus
• Synthia Sumukti, coach and alumna
• ʻAulani Wagner, library science and American studies
• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Amanda Kanthack, psychology and Japanese
• Caleb Zerbe, computer science
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Christopher Wright, electrical engineering
• Courtney Hisamoto, computer science
• D’Elle Martin, architecture
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Hannah Madiam, kinesiology
• Iris Calauan, pre-nursing
• Jonathan Bona, civil engineering
• Julietta Lopez, architecture
• Kanaru Ebi, psychology
• Karl Merritt, mechanical engineering
• Luis Hernandez, electrical and computer engineering
• Lyndsey Moku, political science
• Maya Ito, psychology
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Noah Asano, computer science
• Samantha Reed, computer science
• Shaelyn Loo, computer science
• Tessa Heidkamp, journalism and political science
• Andrew Lin, computer science alumnus
• Sydney Kim, computer science alumna
• Jason Aguda, computer engineering alumnus
• Matthew Rummel, political science and business alumnus
• Ariel Ramos, cinematic arts animation alumna
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science alumnus
• Wilson Tran, computer science alumnus
• Florence Liu, faculty, mathematics

Luis Hernandez and Maya Ito dancing the American Cha-cha in the Collegiate Team Match where UH Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Elijah Saloma and Michaella Villanueva dancing the International Quickstep in the Collegiate Team Match where UH Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti dancing the Mambo in the Senior IV American Rhythm Championship final. (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Students cheering for their coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

, an associate professor of at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, has been named one of the ’s (AIMBE) 2026 Emerging Leaders. The national honor recognizes rising innovators whose work is helping shape the future of medical and biological engineering (MBE).

Ray is one of only nine honorees selected this year, the second year AIMBE has offered the program. AIMBE created the program to highlight exceptional early- and mid-career professionals who are making important contributions to the field and to broaden voices in MBE. The group will be recognized at AIMBE’s annual event in Washington, D.C., in April 2026.

“I am deeply honored to join this cohort of Emerging Leaders. This recognition truly reflects the dedication of the students and researchers in my lab whose curiosity drives our technology,” Ray said. “I look forward to the mentorship and collaboration within the AIMBE community, which will be invaluable as we scale our work to tackle the next generation of challenges in health monitoring.”

Established in 1991, AIMBE represents the most accomplished individuals in the fields of MBE. AIMBE’s mission is to provide leadership and advocacy in MBE for the benefit of society. The goal of AIMBE’s Emerging Leaders program is to increase AIMBE’s engagement with exceptional professionals that are underrepresented in MBE, recognize outstanding rising leaders in MBE and serve as a pathway for leaders to AIMBE’s College of Fellows.

Ray’s research focuses on large scale healthcare challenges as well as scientific problems in advanced manufacturing for remote and rural environments. His group seeks to develop wearable sensors and soft, skin-like devices that collect and analyze sweat to offer real-time health information and help track hydration, diagnose certain diseases and support personalized wellness. His lab is also developing next generation advanced manufacturing technologies to address the urgent need for new materials and fabrication techniques essential in applications spanning health monitoring, batteries and quantum computing.

A comprehensive review of the challenges in printing with paste-like materials and how understanding the underlying physics could improve manufacturing reliability has been co-authored by a University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researcher. The paper, published in the , brings together decades of research to create a roadmap for printing everything from artificial tissues to buildings.

“Right now, 3D printing leans heavily on experience and rules of thumb, slightly modifying recipes and settings until things work,” said , associate professor in the UH Mānoa . “We want to provide engineers the tools needed to complement experience with physics-based predictions.”

Direct-ink writing

The printing method examined, called direct-ink writing (DIW), works like decorating a cake. The “frosting” must flow smoothly through the nozzle, then instantly hold its shape without melting or collapsing. The method covers a wide variety of printable “inks” that can be living cells, concrete, ceramics or polymer mixtures, opening possibilities to make objects and forms that regular plastic 3D printing cannot achieve.

“The paste-like materials that are used in direct-ink writing are complex fluids, remarkable materials that display both liquid- and solid-like behavior, depending on their surroundings,” said Alban Sauret, associate professor at the University of Maryland and lead author. “Such materials have been studied for decades, but DIW presents new and challenging constraints that require a deeper understanding of how these complex fluids behave during printing.”

Make-or-break moments

The review identifies three make-or-break moments where physics determines success or failure. First, the material must flow through the nozzle without clogging, which is a major problem when the ink contains particles or fibers for added strength.

“We’ve all experienced a clogged pen or ketchup bottle,” said Brett G. Compton, associate professor at the University of Tennessee. “If building precise 3D forms using complex fluid weren’t challenging enough, imagine the fluid is filled with ceramic particles, cells or fibers, and must be squeezed through a tiny nozzle without clogging the flow or damaging the cells.”

Second, as the material exits the nozzle, it can break apart, coil, or develop wobbles that ruin the print. Finally, after deposition, the material must be solid enough to hold its shape but liquid enough to bond with previous layers. To successfully print an object, one must perform a delicate balancing act across these three areas. The fact that DIW asks so much of its ink, and that its ink compositions range so broadly, means many unanswered questions remain, especially for the particle-filled materials that enable stronger, more functional prints.

“We’re still in a mode of discovery where each answer provides new questions to ask and new areas to explore, which was what brought the three of us together in the first place,” Ray noted.

The review also highlights promising innovations such as materials that harden on command when exposed to light or heat, and cleverly designed nozzles that reduce clogging.

“The fact is, there’s excellent DIW research out there, but it has been spread out across fields that don’t usually overlap—think medicine, chemistry and civil engineering,” Sauret said. “With this review, we’re hoping to present a cohesive and fundamental fluid mechanics framework that highlights universal challenges and inspires new interdisciplinary research to make the technology more reliable and accessible, regardless of where it’s being used.”

The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, National Institutes of Health and Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC. .

The (AIAA) has named Professor Dilmurat Azimov of the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa’s to its Class of 2026 Associate Fellows, citing his exceptional contributions to aerospace engineering by “demonstrating the utility and importance of analytical integration methods of mechanics in trajectory optimization, and guidance and control of aerospace vehicles.”

The AIAA Associate Fellow distinction honors individuals who have accomplished or supervised notable engineering or scientific work, carried out original research of outstanding merit, or made significant contributions to the advancement of aeronautics and astronautics. Only one member of AIAA in every 150 is selected annually for this recognition.

Azimov joined UH Mānoa’s faculty after an extensive career in academia and research, and currently serves as a professor in the . His research focuses on trajectory optimization, guidance and control systems for flight vehicles, and analytical methods for optimal control problems—work that contributes to the development of next-generation aerospace systems and autonomous vehicles.

“Being named an Associate Fellow of AIAA is a tremendous honor and a significant milestone in my career,” Azimov said. “I’m proud to represent �鶹��ý, the Aloha State, in the global aerospace community and to contribute to advancing aerospace engineering research and education from our islands.”

Azimov earned a PhD in mechanics from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (1992) and a DSc in dynamics, ballistics, and flight vehicle control from the Moscow Aviation Institute (2008).

The AIAA will formally induct the Class of 2026 Associate Fellows at a ceremony during the AIAA SciTech Forum on January 14, 2026, in Orlando, Florida.

The AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society, with nearly 30,000 members from 91 countries. It serves as a leading forum for the exchange of ideas and advances in aerospace science, engineering and technology.

—By Justin Scott

Materials science is the study and design of new materials and their properties, and it plays a crucial role in industries ranging from renewable energy and aerospace to electronics and national defense. Researchers at University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa’s (HIGP) are leading new initiatives to advance materials science across the state.

Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education

UH Mānoa launched the Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education (MSCoRE) in 2017, with a goal of bringing together materials experts and infrastructure scattered around several colleges and departments under one group in support of education, innovation and to lay the foundation for a future materials science center at UH Mānoa.

Under MSCoRE, UH Mānoa developed a popular research experience class for undergraduates and became successful in obtaining grants to bolster its materials science program. One of its early successes was earning a U.S. Department of Energy grant to study hydrogen storage materials.

Materials Research and Education Consortium

Utilizing this momentum, researchers from UH Mānoa and the University of Washington (UW) received a seed award from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program in 2021. The collaboration, known as the Materials Research and Education Consortium (MRE-C), is made up of seven UH Mānoa faculty from HIGP, , and , as well as faculty from the UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center.

MRE-C conducts public school visits around the islands to increase student interest and participation in materials science and STEM, and facilitates student exchanges at the undergraduate and graduate levels between UH Mānoa and UW. The grant was recently renewed by NSF for a full six years at $4.2 million.

�鶹��ý Institute of Materials Research

As a testament to UH Mānoa’s expanding capacity and expertise in this space, the Office of Naval Research just awarded a three-year, $4.5 million grant to conduct innovative, high-risk scientific research with the potential to enhance naval capabilities and national security in the Indo-Pacific region. Together with the NSF PREM grant, UH Mānoa will now have a formal structure in place with the establishment of the �鶹��ý Institute of Materials Research (HIMaR). HIMaR will be a virtual, interdisciplinary institute of applied and fundamental research in materials science, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.

Read more on materials science research at UH . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

Future engineers are getting a firsthand look at �鶹��ý’s growing microelectronics field, as the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa wrapped up its first internship cycle tied to a multi-million-dollar national innovation hub.

The internship experience was part of the , which received $15.3 million in federal funding as part of a larger $238 million U.S. Department of Defense initiative to strengthen U.S. leadership in advanced computer chip design and production. UH is part of the Northwest AI Hub along with several institutions, including Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Five undergraduate students participated in the inaugural internship at UH Mānoa, including three undergraduates who transferred from a UH community college. Their 10-week long experience included research and lectures on chip design and fabrication, with projects ranging from organic light-emitting diodes to pressure sensors. Students also became familiar with cleanroom practices and equipment, laying the foundation for continued work this fall.

Internship participant Jenny Brown, an major, was also selected to travel to the University of Washington for four days to observe a cleanroom internship there. The visit provided insight into how other partner institutions run their programs and offered ideas that UH Mānoa can adapt for the next cohort, expected to expand in 2026.

“Working in UH’s microelectronics internship and visiting the cleanroom program at the University of Washington gave me a full perspective on how advanced chip design programs operate,” Brown said. “It showed me the growth and value of investing in �鶹��ý‘s future. We have incredible, growing talent here, and I’m eager to bring back the inspired ideas and strategies to the next student cohort.”

Connecting with employers

As part of their experience, students took part in site visits to Nalu Scientific and the Naval Information Warfare Center, building connections with local employers. Program leaders said such visits are critical for showing students career opportunities in �鶹��ý and supporting efforts to retain technical talent in the state.

“This first internship cycle showed how powerful hands-on training can be for our students,” Professor Jeffrey Weldon said. “They not only gained technical skills, but also built connections with local employers that will help strengthen �鶹��ý’s high-tech workforce.”

UH Mānoa’s role in the $15.3 million project emphasizes both workforce training and industry engagement, bridging research expertise with practical experience. With the first round of internships completed, UH leaders plan to scale the program to reach more students in future years.

From the fluid motion of fish and elegant propulsion of jellyfish, to the shape-adapting capabilities of an octopus, nature’s creatures have remarkable bio-mechanical capabilities that can offer technical solutions to many of today’s most complex challenges, according to University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa Assistant Professor Tianlu Wang.

Wang’s fundamental biomechanics research has allowed him to develop groundbreaking innovations—bio-inspired soft robots that can serve as cutting-edge tools in addressing persisting healthcare, sustainability and industrial challenges. By decoding how small aquatic animals move and function efficiently through hard-to-reach, fluid environments, Wang’s tiny soft robots mimic these traits, enabling them to maneuver with similar grace and resilience through environments such as delicate underwater ecosystems or the human body.

Related UH News stories:

• Team of microscopic soft robots could transform medical care, November 10, 2024
• Robot tech to clean oceans wows international summit, February 6, 2024

Biomechanical robots

More than 90% of marine life is smaller than 10 centimeters, and their locomotion techniques are marvels of efficiency and adaptability. From larval zebrafish to jellyfish, these creatures display soft-bodied locomotion, large deformations and shape adaptations that Wang’s lab research has captured and translated into robotic performance. By capturing wake flow patterns and studying fluid-structure interactions of these tiny creatures, Wang’s team was able to mimic these biomechanical actions to improve propulsion, momentum and efficiency in robotic movement.

One example is a robotic swimmer he created that emulates larval zebrafish by using a uniform stiffness distribution and an oscillating magnetic field to reproduce energy-efficient, silent swimming.

“Such insights don’t just make for better robots, they can help biologists understand the fundamental biomechanics of animal life, and hopefully inspire new collaborations between engineers and marine biologists to better understand and replicate these remarkable organisms to create solutions for everyday life,” said Wang.

For more on the marine conservation potential and innovation for island communities as a result of Wang’s research, . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

A groundbreaking study by University of �鶹��ý researchers is advancing how we learn the laws that govern complex systems—from predator-prey relationships to traffic patterns in cities to how populations grow and shift—using artificial intelligence (AI) and physics.

The research, on August 21, introduces a new method based on statistical mechanics to improve the discovery of equations directly from noisy real-world data. Statistical mechanics is a branch of physics that explains how collective behavior emerges from individual particles, such as how the random motion of gas molecules leads to predictable changes in pressure and temperature.

In this new work, statistical mechanics is used to understand how different mathematical models “compete” when trying to explain a system. This matters because many scientific fields rely on understanding how systems change over time, whether tracking disease spread, analyzing climate change or predicting the stock market. But real-world data is often messy, and traditional AI models can be unreliable when the data gets noisy or incomplete.

The new approach helps separate useful information from irrelevant noise, giving researchers more confidence that a discovered equation actually reflects reality.

“This work not only pushes the boundaries of how we use AI and physics to understand complex systems, but also highlights the cutting-edge research happening right here in �鶹��ý,” said Andrei A. Klishin, the study’s lead author and assistant professor in the UH Mānoa . “It shows that UH is a place where fundamental science meets real-world impact—something that’s incredibly important for training the next generation of thinkers and innovators in our state.”

When more is less

The study shows when collecting more data won’t help, an insight that can save time and resources. By borrowing tools such as “free energy” and the “partition function” from physics, the method identifies when a model is likely to fail due to complexity or lack of data.

It also estimates how much uncertainty is in the result, a key factor when making real-world decisions based on data. This UH-led innovation could impact everything from engineering and ecology to economics and medicine, where understanding the rules behind data can lead to better predictions, smarter decisions and deeper insights into how our world works.

A researcher in the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s has developed a new method to improve the bonding strength of silicone-based materials, a breakthrough that could enhance the durability and performance of soft biomedical devices, wearable technology and soft robots. These materials are used in things such as artificial muscles, flexible medical implants and fitness trackers—devices that need to bend, stretch and move with the human body without falling apart over time.

Silicone elastomers (rubbery, gel-like materials made from silicone) are widely used in soft devices because they are flexible, chemically stable, and compatible with human tissue. However, a key challenge in their use has been controlling how well layers or components stick together during manufacturing, particularly when curing temperatures and durations vary.

In a new study, published July 16, lead author and UH ����ԴDz� Assistant Professor Te Faye Yap, and her co-authors, developed a new framework to predict how well silicone materials will stick together by looking at how long and how hot they’re cured. Bonding too late results in a weak connection because the materials don’t have enough chemical interaction to hold together well, while bonding at the right time creates stronger, more durable joints. This method helps identify when a material will fail by peeling or breaking, allowing manufacturers to adjust curing and bonding processes to reduce the risk of devices coming apart.

Yap worked with co-authors at Rice University and Tulane University while she was a PhD student at Rice.

“Strong, consistent bonding is crucial to prevent leaks and device failure,” said Yap. “This framework expands the design and fabrication toolkit for silicone elastomeric devices—an advancement that aligns with the College of Engineering’s vision for on-island advanced manufacturing and innovation in �鶹��ý.”

Smarter design for silicone technology

Using this new method, the team built soft robotic parts that curved 50% more and 3D-printed pieces that stuck together more than twice as well as usual. The model worked well even when curing temperatures were changed to speed up production or enable printing.

The research offers helpful guidance for building silicone devices using both molding and 3D printing. Overall, the study provides a simple and generalizable way to make soft devices stronger and more reliable, and has the potential to help shape future advances in flexible electronics and 3D-printed technology.

When Jonavan Gonzalez walks across the Stan Sheriff Center stage on May 17, it will mark the culmination of a six-year journey—one that began at Nānākuli High and Intermediate School and led to two degrees from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. After earning his bachelor’s in in 2023, Gonzalez is now graduating with a master’s in , a rare academic combination that reflects his drive to blend technical innovation with business strategy.

“It’s just an exciting time,” Gonzalez said. “I’m looking forward to seeing where everything I’ve learned takes me next—ideally at Disney, NASA or SpaceX.”

A journey shaped by inspiration, family

Born and raised in Nānākuli, Gonzalez said his early aspirations were shaped by both his aspirations and his imagination.

“Tony Stark, Iron Man, is like my idol and he’s also a mechanical engineer,” he said. “That was my main motivation for mechanical engineering. I knew I always wanted a higher education degree after high school, but I know it’s rare for Nānākuli graduates to get their bachelor’s in engineering.”

That perception shifted when Gonzalez’s older brother pursued a civil engineering degree at .

“Watching him do it showed me that it was possible and that as long as I follow his footsteps, I’ll be good,” Gonzalez said. “The degree is what I want, so why not go for it?”

Bridging the gap: Engineering meets finance

He enrolled at UH ����ԴDz� in 2019 and dove headfirst into mechanical engineering.

Meet more amazing UH spring graduates

“I earned my undergrad degree in mechanical engineering because I’ve loved solving complex problems and coming up with innovative solutions,” he explained. “But I realized I was also passionate about finance and business. I didn’t want to quit engineering, and it was too late to get a minor in business, so I decided to get my master’s in finance.”

Gonzalez sees his combined degrees as the perfect foundation for a future that blends technical expertise with business acumen.

“With my double degrees, I’m hoping to start in the workforce, whether at Disney, NASA or SpaceX as a mechanical engineer, or at Disney, they call themselves ‘imagineers,’” he said. “And from there, I’ll work my way up the corporate ladder to more business-related roles, elevating from product manager to executive roles in either finance or operations.”

Mentoring the next generation

At UH, Gonzalez served as a PACE Leader at the in the , mentoring fellow students on prototype design, product development and pitching. In 2024, he received the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation Scholarship for RISE, and in 2025, Gonzalez was a semifinalist in the UH Venture Competition for his work on COCO, an AI-powered app designed to reduce food waste.

“I’ve been with the program for about two years now. As a PACE leader, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor and support other students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation,” he said. “But most importantly, it’s just the networking aspect of it all, especially as someone like me in my position living here at the Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center. It’s just so convenient and perfect.”

Inspiration for the future

Despite his technical expertise and accomplishments, Gonzalez stays grounded in where he came from and offers advice for others in his community.

“Especially for Nānākuli or similar schools, it’s not where you start. It doesn’t define where you go, especially in your career,” he said. “If you put in the work, believe in yourself, you can achieve pretty much anything, and that includes higher education.”

“UH means so much to me. It’s my local college. It’s where I grew up here personally and grew here professionally. My time at UH Manoa gave me the foundation to chase my passions in engineering, finance, and leadership. Beyond academics, UH gave me the community, lifelong connections and the confidence to take on bigger goals. It’s truly been a place that shaped who I am today.”

—By Marc Arakaki

The Ballroom Dance Club at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� defended its national championship at the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 28–30.

Competing against more than 40 colleges, UH ����ԴDz� won first place once again for “highest point average,” as well as second place for both the overall team championship and the formation team competition, asserting its place as the ballroom dance college team to beat in the U.S. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires all members of the team to perform exceptionally well in all events.

The dancers are trained and coached by Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (choreographer and instructor). Narayan and Sumukti also represented �鶹��ý in the amateur USA Dance National DanceSport Championships in the senior age division.

“It was an incredibly proud moment to defend our highest point average victory—it speaks volumes about our team’s dedication and passion,” said Narayan, co-instructor of the UH ����ԴDz� Ballroom Dance Club and an adjunct faculty member in the UH ����ԴDz� . “To finish second overall against such fierce competition is a testament to the discipline and the hundreds of hours of hard work that our students put into their training.”

Two years of success

This was just the second year the UH ����ԴDz� team competed at the national competition since the formation of the club in September 2022. Last year, the students took first place for “highest team average” and finished in fourth place overall.

“Nationals was one of the most challenging yet rewarding tasks I’ve ever accomplished,” UH ����ԴDz� computer science student Shaelyn Loo said. “Being able to dance and compete with such supportive coaches and teammates helped ease the nerves of competition so I could focus on having fun and performing.”

Andrew Lin, a UH ����ԴDz� computer science student, added, “Nationals was an unforgettable experience that evoked a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, frustration, acceptance, pride and gratitude. Despite the challenges, the friendships we forged, lessons we learned and our love for ballroom dancing made it all worthwhile.”

Endurance competition

The NCDC is a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. It consisted of multiple events based on proficiency (bronze, silver, gold, etc.) and age level (youth, collegiate, adult, senior, etc.). Each student danced in approximately 15 to 32 different events in both the collegiate and adult age categories at the bronze and silver skill levels. They competed in all four styles of ballroom dance including International Standard (waltz, foxtrot, tango and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz), American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing and bolero) and International Latin (samba, chacha, rumba and jive). Several students took individual first place awards in their respective divisions defeating up to 70 other competitors in some competitions. The NCDC trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition, as �鶹��ý has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

An audience member and parent of a high school junior said, “Thanks to your team, my daughter (who has never done ballroom dance before) wants to join your team and is now seriously considering the University of �鶹��ý as an option for her undergraduate studies.”

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all UH ����ԴDz� students, faculty and staff in studio 2 in the athletics department from 6–7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, UH ����ԴDz� athletics department, Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of �鶹��ý and USA Dance, Inc. for facility and financial support.

UH ����ԴDz� 2025 nationals team roster:

• Ravi Narayan, faculty (computer science) and coach
• Synthia Sumukti, coach
• Florence Liu, faculty (math)
• D’Elle Martin, architecture
• Julietta Lopez, architecture
• Epsilon Austin, biotechnology
• Luis Hernandez, computer engineering
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science
• Courtney Hisamoto, computer science
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Shaelyn Loo, computer science
• Andrew Lin, computer science
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Kyoko Suzuki, environmental science
• Mayumi Watanabe, hospitality
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Matthew Rummel, political science
• Andrea Siochi, psychology
• Sydney Kim, alumni, computer science
• Jason Aguda, alumni, computer engineering
• Wilson Tran, alumni, computer science
• Emily Pham, alumni, computer engineering

Formation team

Swing

Viennese Waltz

Waltz

Seven graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50 and an additional 14 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2025 , released on April 8. The (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care.

The highest ranked programs were in the , ranking No. 16 for best part-time law programs, No. 36 for best environmental law programs and No. 45 for best international law programs. The Library and Information Science Program in the ranked No. 36. JABSOM ranked No. 41 for most graduates practicing in primary care and No. 47 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, and the ranked No. 43 for best nursing schools, doctor of nursing practice.

Rankings were based on different criteria, including research activity (publications and citations), placement success (employment and earnings), quality assessment (peer and recruiter assessments), student selectivity (GPA and test scores) and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student to faculty ratio).

“These latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report reflect UH ����ԴDz�’s unwavering dedication to academic excellence and impactful research,” said UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno. “They speak to the strength of our graduate programs and the hard work of our faculty, students and staff. �鶹��ý residents can take pride in knowing that their flagship university continues to shape the next generation of leaders, educators and innovators for our state and beyond.”

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these UH News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  College of Engineering  |  Shidler College of Business  |  College of Social Sciences  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters  |  College of Natural Sciences

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 15 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 16 for best part-time law programs, No. 36 for best environmental law programs and No. 45 for best international law programs, the UH ����ԴDz� law school placed No. 99 out of nearly 200 of the best law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

• Legal writing: No. 51
• Dispute resolution: No. 72
• Criminal law: No. 82
• Tax law: No. 95
• Constitutional law: No. 98
• Contracts/commercial law: No. 98
• Business/corporate law: No. 108
• Intellectual property law: No. 123
• Clinical training: No. 125
• Health care law: No. 128
• Trial advocacy: No. 178

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 2 for best medical schools for research.

In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 41 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 47 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 166 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. JABSOM also placed No. 155 for speech language pathology. .

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program was ranked No. 43 among 158 of the top schools in U.S. News and World Report’s best nursing schools ranking. UH ����ԴDz�’s nursing school is the only �鶹��ý DNP program ranked by U.S. News and World Report since 2018.

College of Education

The ranked No. 65 of 258 schools ranked, the 20th straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

College of Engineering

Four graduate programs were ranked among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News. placed No. 90; ranked No. 91; and placed No. 124. The College of Engineering ranked No. 163 among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

Shidler College of Business

The rose 29 spots to No. 137 out of 241 ranked schools for its part-time master of business administration (MBA) program. Shidler’s MBA programs are the only MBA programs in �鶹��ý accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and among the few MBA programs in the U.S. with a true Asia-Pacific focus.

College of Social Sciences

In addition to the Library and Information Science Program ranking No. 36, the College of Social Sciences had the following programs placed in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings: at No. 78, at No. 82, at No. 104, at No. 107, at No. 113 and at No. 124.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 99 out of 219 public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to a recently launched online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

In the , the placed No. 97 and the ranked No. 104.

College of Natural Sciences

In the , the ranked No. 110.

Other rankings

UH ����ԴDz� also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 12, 2025
• UH ����ԴDz� earns highest national research designation, February 20, 2025
• 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 23, 2025

Low-cost, maritime acoustic sensors that detect incoming aircraft were showcased by the University of �鶹��ý’s (ARL at UH) in front of an international audience at the 2025 Field Experimentation event (POST FX) on March 7.

Nine sensors were deployed in waters off Marine Corps Base �鶹��ý, and the information they collected was transmitted to a computer on shore. The sensors are intended to assist Pacific Rim allies and partners in strengthening coastal defense.

This was one of more than 20 cutting-edge tech demonstrations that were showcased at POST FX, which is an annual event designed to provide a stage for demonstrations of novel and emerging technologies that engage defense innovators from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. allies and partners from around the Indo-Pacific region. It drew approximately 800 attendees from government, industry and academia spanning 10 countries. Along with participating, ARL at UH also planned, organized and executed the event.

“This is the fourth year that we’ve done this. Every year it gets bigger and it gets better,” ARL at UH Director Margo Edwards said. “This year we have 22 technologies. All of them are actually active, so it’s not just a tabletop display. There’s something that’s going on.”

Defense, surveillance, providing aid

Demonstrations aligned with innovation priorities established by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, including defense against electronic attacks, improved awareness of land, sea, and air domains, and the provision of humanitarian aid in the wake of natural disasters.

“It’s really critical that the Applied Research Laboratory continues to be a center of excellence for federating the research community around defense innovation,” said Joshua Baghdady, POST FX coordinator and ARL at UH uncrewed systems communications engineer. “It’s good for �鶹��ý and it’s good for the Pacific Rim as we maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific with our like-minded allies and partners.”

The theme for the 2025 Pacific Operational Science and Technology Conference was “Together We Prevail.” The university’s participation emphasized its role in technology development and cooperation around the Pacific region.

“It’s really cool that we’ve been able to participate in this event,” said Matthew Nakamura, a UH ����ԴDz� PhD candidate in and graduate research assistant at ARL at UH. “I’ve been here every year, and being able to interact with folks around the world is really good to showcase UH’s capabilities.”

Imagine microscopic robots that can navigate the body, delivering medicine precisely to damaged tissues while avoiding side effects. Engineers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� have discovered a new breakthrough that brings this vision closer to reality.

The research, , demonstrates how specially designed microscopic robots, known as Janus particles, can detect and navigate towards chemical signals, much like bacteria-sensing food.

When placed near a chemical-releasing patch, the particles can automatically “swim” toward it and maintain a stable hovering position directly above it. Drug-carrying particles could automatically locate and hover over infected or damaged tissue that releases specific chemical signals, delivering medication precisely where needed.

Microscopic medical ‘delivery service’

The research team consisting of UH ����ԴDz� PhD student Viviana Mancuso, UH ����ԴDz� Associate Professor William Uspal and Mihail Popescu from the University of Seville in Spain found that particle shape plays a crucial role in achieving a stable hovering process. Elongated particles, shaped like microscopic rods, proved more effective at maintaining their position compared to spherical ones, which tended to drift away over time.

“This research brings us closer to having ‘smart’ microscopic devices that can deliver medicine exactly where it’s needed in the body, much like having a tiny, precise delivery service at the cellular level,” Mancuso said. “Instead of flooding the whole body with medication, which can cause side effects, these microscopic robots could ‘swim’ directly to the problem area—whether it’s an infection, tumor or injury—and deliver treatment right at that spot.”

Industrial applications

Beyond medical applications, this technology could be used to detect damage in materials. Researchers suggest these particles could identify corrosion spots on metal surfaces or locate damage in materials that release specific chemicals when compromised. The study also demonstrated that these particles can find their targets even when released from random positions and orientations, suggesting real-world applicability.

Future work will focus on how these particles perform in more complex environments, including fluids that better simulate biological conditions. The development represents a significant step toward creating autonomous microscopic devices that can perform targeted tasks in medical and industrial applications.

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� fall 2024 graduate Sapphira Akins has been named a recipient of the 2024 .

Akins, who specializes in aerospace engineering, was selected for the John R. Sevier Memorial Scholarship, which comes with a $5,000 award. The scholarship honors Sevier’s contributions to aerospace engineering.

“This scholarship provided me with the support I needed in order to complete my bachelor’s degree this semester,” Akins said. “Receiving this award reinforces my goal to continue studying what I’m passionate about and to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot and astronaut.”

Akins was the Outstanding Graduating Senior for mechanical engineering at the fall 2024 convocation and is in the BAM (bachelor’s and master’s) program working on her master’s degree.

“Sapphira’s award is really a strong recognition of the importance of the University of �鶹��ý’s role in the whole space science and engineering initiative, and engineering’s role in building a stronger economic sector in �鶹��ý and the workforce necessary to support that ecosystem, whether it is in ground-based astronomy, sending satellites into space, or helping to lead space missions far beyond our current reaches,” UH ����ԴDz� College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said. “UH has a lot to offer in this area and students like Sapphira are sure to be leaders going forward.”

In June 2024, Akins was part of a student group that was selected to launch their satellite into space as early as 2025 through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative. And in 2023, Akins earned an opportunity to travel to Switzerland to learn more about advanced scientific detectors that helped her team build their satellite.

“My takeaway is never underestimate the importance of persistence and collaboration,” Akins said. “All of the research projects I’ve worked on have a strong team that is willing to work together to solve problems and generate solutions. Also, take opportunities that are new, exciting and outside your comfort zone. You’ll either gain an unforgettable story or create cherished memories that will inspire new passions and perspectives on your future.”

USRA awards recognize undergraduate juniors and seniors who demonstrate exceptional potential in space science and engineering. This year, the organization received 89 applications from 54 universities nationwide. Akins was one of five students chosen through a competitive selection process that evaluated candidates on academic achievements, leadership qualities, community outreach and innovative problem-solving abilities.